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Emma is home from her eye appointment! The saga continues!

September 22nd, 2008 - 7:07 pm KY Time

Howllo Fellow Hound and Welcome Home from the eye doctor lovers: (Whew)

Well, we are home and Lordie Mercy the saga continues!

Dr. Ketring took one look at her eye from across the room and took a deep sigh. I knew that was not good. He put a drop in her eye and then turned off the lights. He got out his eye light thing and looked for a nano second. I guess he already saw the problem from across the room.

My Mom and I were sitting like 2 birds on a wire. Emma was looking straight at him like she could see everything and she was waiting for the verdict!

Dr. Ketring turned his back and began writing in, “The Chart”. My Mom and I looked at each other with dread. Emma kept looking at his back.

Dr. Ketring whipped around in the wheeled chair and said,

“I have been doing prosthetic eyes since 1962 and I have only had one failure.”

Me……… “Gulp” while thinking to myself, typical of my luck.

Dr. Ketring,

“This might be number 2.” As he drummed his fingers on the desk he said,

“I want to try one more 2 week treatment, since she is not in pain. I tested her with the examination and she is not in pain due to the dulled sensation of her cornea and the meds she is on.”

Me……… “OK, lay it on me.”

Dr. Ketring went on to say that Emma’s eye was really no worse than it was about 2 weeks ago. It just was not healing. If we could just get the blood vessels to make their way over the abrasion on the cornea it should heal. She could keep her prosthetic for a while longer and not have to endure the prosthetic removal.

“OK”, I said how do we try this?

He looked at his tech and said, “pull some blood from Trowler and get me some serum”!

Trowler is Dr. Ketring’s Chesapeake Bay curly coated retriever.

Dr. Ketring then went on to try and tell us about this method. He said that Emma’s corneal abrasion was not healing and this therapy may help. The serum consists of platelets spun out of his dog’s blood. This could help to form an adhesion blanket to the abrasion and allow the blood vessels to connect and heal Emma’s abrasion. This treatment is given every 6 hours for 2 weeks.

Wow, I think I got that right?!? I am pretty jazzed about it since she is not in pain. We are going to try this for 2 weeks and then see. If I notice any signs of pain we are going to abort this therapy and get her prosthetic removed ASAP.

Regardless, Emma is going to have a bit of curly coated retriever in her!

She might enjoy swimming now and her coat might get a bit curly! I told her doctor that we are family now and we need to exchange holiday cards.

LOL – All kidding aside, I really hope this works. Her doctor really just wants Emma to get better. She is kind of one of his favorites.

Right now she is playing with Chaps and having a great time.

Now, time for bed!

Stay tuned.

Her regular vet has already been called and is ready to remove the prosthetic at a moments notice. Currently, Emma seems great. Remember, I went through glaucoma with her and I know her signs of pain.

Remember, dogs can mask pain very well, so keep a close eye for pawing, rubbing, laying on the painful eye side kind of funny, like twisting the head so it is pressing down on the painful eye. A huge sign is the third eye lid coming up and covering the eye or total shut down of the eye with the lids closed. Really, anything abnormal in the eye area.

OK, I have to go give Emma her drops.

More Later….Cat, Chaps and Emma

P.S. Just in case you are curious? I have spent 300.00 in 2 weeks on Emma’s fake eye. I have also been giving her 3 different drops every 4 to 6 hours in varying formulations for 2 weeks.

This is just information for those of you that are reading my blog and might want to consider a prosthetic. They are a huge amount of money and work.

Comments

  1. audra
    September 22nd, 2008 | 8:07 pm

    Oh, Cat…..here we go again!!!!! I feel so bad for you and Emma, but you know Cat this prosthetic eye has been Hell from the start! I know it will be a lot for Emma and YOU to go through again, but it just might be best to get that DAMN thing removed once and for all. Thankfully she has you and Chaps to help her through all of the recoveries, and we will pray her through this one too. On the flip side, I do hope that the blood treatment works, to spare her all of this once again, so please keep us posted and know that we are sending much drool and prayers your way! Kiss Emma and Big Daddy for us. And right now I’m hugging you tight, in my heart — I hope you feel it!…..because I know you are worried. We love you. ~ Audra, Colby Chaps & Abby

  2. audra
    September 22nd, 2008 | 8:08 pm

    P.S. I loved the playing photos — it warms my heart to see that Emma’s spirit is still alive!

  3. September 22nd, 2008 | 8:45 pm

    I know Audra. I agree with you. I think her fake eye will come out soon.

    Poor Emma, she does not need all of this.

    We love you, Cat, Chaps and Emma

  4. Candace Wilson
    September 22nd, 2008 | 10:18 pm

    We have all paws crossed that this works for Emma.

  5. Limber/Linda
    September 23rd, 2008 | 6:23 am

    Goodness knows you’ve been through enough.
    After all is said and done, you’ll know in your heart what is best to do.

    (((((Cat and Emma)))))

  6. MaureenandSlinky
    September 23rd, 2008 | 10:29 am

    We all are praying for Emma to get all better.

  7. Mary Tipping
    September 23rd, 2008 | 10:42 am

    We love you, sweet Emma! Drool and prayers being sent…

    Mary, Harley, Biggs, and Leo

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